ON THIS day

1368

Zhu Chongba ascends the throne in Nanjing as emperor of China, founding the Ming dynasty. The former peasant introduced new methods of torture to control public servants.

1796

The distilling of spirits is prohibited in NSW. 1806 British prime minister William Pitt the Younger dies in office at 46. Worn down by drinking port and worries of the Napoleonic war, he clung to power through his debating skill.

1933

England’s cricket administrators, the Marylebone Cricket Club committee, dismiss a complaint from Australia’s Cricket Board of Control about bodyline bowling and “deplore’’ the claim that it is unsportsmanlike.

1937

Seventeen Communist leaders go on trial in the Soviet Union. They confess they conspired with Leon Trotsky to undermine Joseph Stalin’s regime. Thirteen receive death sentences.

1942

Japanese invade Rabaul. The 1400 Australian troops withdraw after eight hours’ fighting; about 400 survive.

1976

Death of Paul Robeson, US singer and actor best known for the song Ole Man River (above), at age 77.

1986

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland inducts its first class, which included Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and Elvis Presley.

1997

The Age of Aquarius dawns, some astrologers believe, because for the first time since 1475 a number of planets, the Sun, and the Moon were aligned in a perfect six-pointed star in the first degrees of Aquarius.

2002

US journalist Daniel Pearl, 38, researching Islamic militants, is kidnapped by a group of them in Pakistan. He is later decapitated.

2007

Millionaire Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull joins federal cabinet as environment and water resources minister, as prime minister John Howard reshuffles his team.